Siargao Cup draws world-class surfers

MANILA, Philippines - Top local and foreign surfers pitted their skills and talents as they clashed for top honors in the 20th Siargao International Surfing Cup, a surfing competition organized by the local government of Siargao and backed by Philex Mining Corp., Silangan Mindanao Mining and Smart Communications.

Atty. Michael Toledo, media-bureau head of the MVP Group of Companies and SVP-Corporate Affairs at Philex Mining Corp. has lauded the province of Surigao Del Norte under the leadership of Rep. Francisco Matugas and Gov. Sol Matugas for the successful staging of the five-day event which ended yesterday in Siargao.

“The MVP Group, through its companies Silangan Mining, Philex and Smart, is one with the province in promoting this event and its potential as an investment and tourism hub. The MVP Group has long been a partner of the province in its efforts towards protecting its environment and in building awareness towards its vast investment potential. This partnership has remained strong and shall continue to be so for the years to come,” he said.

On the other hand, Matugas said that this year’s staging reached a higher level since it was sanctioned by international surfing organizations such as the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) and Asian Surfing Championship (ASC). 

“Last year, we had the ASC to give us a 6-star surfing ranking, making the Siargao Surfing Cup one of the qualifying stops for the Asian Circuit,” said Gov. Matugas.

This gave Siargao ratings of ASP- World Qualifying series 1 Star and ASC Grade 6, the highest rating for ASC tour.

The event drew surfers from Australia, Indonesia, Hawaii, the US and Japan along with the local ace who vied for the $15,000 prize pot and rating points in the effort to qualify for the ASP World Tour.